Search Government Affairs

Second Opinion

Washington Highlights

NIH Coalition Describes Impact of Shutdown on Medical Research

October 18, 2013—The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research sent an Oct. 11 letter urging “Congress and the Administration to work together to negotiate an end to the government shutdown, restore pre-sequestration funding levels for the NIH [National Institutes of Health], and devise a long-term strategy to ensure the NIH receives the necessary funding to continue its vital lifesaving mission ‘to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.’” AAMC convenes the Ad Hoc Group, a coalition of more than 300 organizations.

The letter, addressed to House and Senate leadership, was delivered before congressional leaders announced they had reached a deal to end the budget impasse (see related story). It describes how the government-wide shutdown was “affecting scientists not only working in the agency’s renowned Clinical Center, but also at universities and research institutions nationwide.”

Examples cited in the letter include the inability of NIH to issue new grants or contracts as a result of the lapse in funding; delays for researchers collaborating with NIH scientists; and delays in research as a result of a potential backlog in reviewing new research proposals.

Shortly after the president signed legislation ending the government shutdown, NIH issued an Oct. 18 statement providing interim guidance regarding the resumption of its extramural activities. The statement indicates that “NIH is working to reestablish dates for grant and contract submission, determine how to handle missed review meetings, and reschedule dates for training and other activities that were scheduled to occur during and immediately following the period of the government shutdown.”

The statement also confirms that the agency would be rescheduling all October grant application submission deadlines to November and would be rescheduling peer review meetings previously scheduled for Oct. 1-17.